The Chocolate War - Victims and Aggressors

Summary: Robert Cormier depicts characters in his novel The Chocolate War as victims and aggressors. This essay explains the literary devices he uses to do this.

Robert Cormier depicts characters in his novel, The Chocolate War, as victims and others as aggressors. Cormier does this through descriptions of the characters interactions and relations with one another. The tension between these characters that Cormier presents expresses and emphasizes it's theme of good vs. evil. Characters like Brother Leon, Archie, and Jerry help make the reader understand the theme through the conflicts that arise between them.

Brother Leon, a teacher at the all boys parochial school in which this book takes place, is a prime example of an aggressor. As a teacher with authority over the students he abuses his power. He takes advantage of the students and directs them to sell chocolate. The chocolate sale is supposed to be optional but with the support of the Vigils, a powerful "gang" of students mostly controlled by Archie, it is understood by...